Engine control apparatus



Nov. 24, 1942. J. B. DYER 2,302,684

' ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-She et 1 v "Wr-T0 GISOL [NE 64068- Maya Nov. 24, 1942 DYER 2,302,684

ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedNov. 24, 1942 ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS John B. Dyer, Pendleton, Ind.,asslgnor, by mesue assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application November 19, 1932, SerialNo. 843,877

14 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the operation ofinternal combustion engines, more particularly to those oi automotivevehicles and specifically to apparatus for controlling the startingdevices for such engines.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide meansoperated by power for causing the starting motor to become operative andto establish driving connection between the driving pinion operated bythe starting motor and the fly wheel gear of the engine which saidpinion drives, in combination with means for causing said power means tobecome operative which is operated by some one of the control devices ofthe vehicle which must be operated by the driver of the vehicle incontrolling its operation, and means controlled by some variablefunction of the engine to prevent operation of said power means when theengine is operating under its own power.

This object is accomplished according to the form of the invention whichis disclosed herein by the provision of a solenoid which, when energized is operative to close the starting motor circuit and simultaneouslyto shift the pinion driven thereby into engagement with the fly wheelgear of the engine, the circuit through the solenoid being closed uponclosing of the ignition switch and a rotary switch operated by theaccelerator pedal, but is prevented from being closed during operationof the engine under its own power either by action of engine suction, orthe solenoid is prevented from becoming operable by a counter voltageset up in the solenoid winding by action of the generator when operatingat a predetermined speed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of one form of this invention in which thegenerator is operative to prevent actuation of the starting motor whilethe engine is operating under its own power.

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram of a modified form the invention in whichengine suction is effective to prevent operation of the starting motorduring operation of the engine.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the suction-controlled switch.

Referring to Fig. 1, the starting motor is indicated at 20 and has anarmature shaft 22 on which is splined a sleeve 24, which is secured toone member of an over-running clutch 26, the other member of which issecured to, or integral with, a driving pinion 28 adapted to be movedinto engagement with the gear 30 formed on the engine fly wheel in orderto turn said gear and start the engine whenever the starting motor isoperated. The sleeve 24 is moved to the right in Fig. l in order toeffect engagement of the pinion 28 with the fly wheel gear 30 andsimultaneously the circuit between the starting motor and the battery isclosed by means which will now be described, in order to cause thestarting motor to become operative.

To this end the sleeve 24 is provided with a grooved collar 32 which isslidable on the sleeve and said collar is engaged by a pin 34 whichprojects from the lower end of a lever 36 suitably pivoted at 38 andpivotally connected at its upper end with the armature 40 of a solenoidwhich is indicated in its entirety by the reference character 42. Thelower part of the lever 36 may be bifurcated to form a yoke and theremay be two pins 34 secured to both arms of the yoke if so desired. Whenthe solenoid i2 is energized, the lever 36 is moved in a counterclockwise direction and through the medium of the collar 32 compresses aspring 44 which surrounds the sleeve 24 between the collar 32 and clutch26 to move the pinion 28 into engagement with the fly wheel gear in theusual manner and at the same time the left end of the armature 40operates the movable contact member 46 of the main starting motor switchto close the starting motor circuit and cause said motor to becomeoperative.

The starting motor is grounded through the connection 48, while a wire50 leads from the starting motor to a fixed contact 52 and a secondfixed contact 54 is connected by a wire 56 with a wire 58 which leadsfrom the generator, hereinafter described, to a battery 60, groundedthrough the connection 62. The movable contact 46 is normally held outof engagement with the contacts 52 and 54 by a spring 64, but uponenergization of the solenoid 42 the contact 46 is moved so as to engageboth of the fixed contacts 52 and 54 and close the circuit of thestarting motor. When this takes place current will flow from the battery60 to ground through the connection 62 and from the battery throughwires 58 and 56, contacts 54, 46, 52 and wire 50 to the starting motorand thence, through connection 48 to ground again.

The starting motor will cause the engine to start and when running underits own power,

the starting motor is rendered inoperative by means later described, atwhich time the lever 38 and the parts operated thereby will be moved tonormal position with the pinion 28 out of engagement with the gear 80.

The operation of the solenoid 42 is both manually and automaticallycontrolled, the solenoid being caused to become energized upon closingof certain manually operated switches, but is deenergized by the effectof a counter voltage set up in the winding of the solenoid by the actionof the generator when the latter is operating at a predetermined speedafter the engine is operating under its own power.

In order tocontrol the operation of the solenoid in this manner it isprovided with a winding 88 one end of which is connected by a wire 88with the wire 58 which leads to the generator I grounded by theconnection I2, the wire 68 being connected between the generator and theusual cutout relay. The other end of the winding 66 is connected by awire 14 with the fixed contact I6 of a switch operated by theaccelerator pedal. The details of construction of this switch are fullyshown and described in applicant's ccpending application Serial No.594,553, and since those structural details form no part of the presentin vention it is not necessary that they be shown herein. It issufiicient for the purpose of this disclosure to state that a rod I'Iextends to the operating device for the carburetor throttle and carriesa housing I8 between which and some fixed portion of the vehicle is aspring 80 which is adapted to hold the rod and housing in its normalinoperative position. A button or pedal 82 is carried by a rod 84slidable in the housing and held in its normal inoperative position by aspring 86 received between the housing and button 82. Operation of thebutton effects movement of a movable contact 88, slidable in the housingI8, into engagement with the fixed contact Ii, while a wire 90 leadsfrom said contact 88 to a wire 93 leading to the gasoline gauge from onefixed contact 85 of the ignition switch while a wire 92 leads to theignition system of the engine from the other fixed contact 84 of theignition switch. The movable contact of said ignition switch comprisestwo contact arms 96 and 91 adapted to engage contacts 84 and 85 and isconnected by a wire 88 with the wire 58 leading from the generator tothe battery. The generator is preferably of the separately excited typeand the field coils thereof are connected by a wire I00 with the wire 82leading to the engine ignition system.

The operation of the above described device is very simple. When theignition switch is closed and the accelerator button or pedal isoperated to bring the contacts 88 and I6 into engagement current willflow from the battery to ground and from the battery through wires 58,88, the ignition switch, wire 80 thru contacts 88 and I6, wire 14, thewinding 66 and wires 88 and 58 to the generator I0 and thru connection12 to ground again. This will cause the solenoid 42 to be energized andthe main starting motor switch to be closed as previously described.This will cause the starting motor to become operative and effect thestarting of the engine. When the engine is running under its own powerand the generator is operating at a predetermined sped a counter voltageis set up in the winding 88 because of the connections 68 and 58 leadingto the generator, and as long as the engine continues to run thesolenoid 42 will be deenergized, notwithstanding the fact that both theignition switch and the acasoaess celerator operated switch remainclosed. Sumcient counter voltage is set up in the solenoid winding toprevent the closing of the starting motor switch at any speed ofoperation of the generator when the engine is operating under its ownpower.

It will be understood that while a separately excited generator isdisclosed a generator of ordinary type can be used. The separatelyexcited type is, however, more effective, setting up a higher countervoltage for a given generator speed, and being operative to preventclosing of the starter switch at any possible operating speed of theengine.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the starting motor andthe solenoid for controlling its operation are of exactly the sameconstruction as in the form of the invention first described. Similarparts are indicated in the drawings by the same reference numbers as inFig. l with the suffix It added, but these parts and their functionsneed not be again described. The means for controlling the energizationof the solenoid 42a is, however, somewhat different from that of thefirst described form of the invention and this control means will bedescribed in detail hereinafter.

The passage of current through the winding of the solenoid is controlledin part by the ignition switch and in part by a switch adapted to beclosed by the accelerator pedal and opened by the action of enginesuction, said switch being indicated in its entirety by the referenceletter A. In this form of the invention the solenoid winding 66a isgrounded at one end by the connection I82 and the ungrounded end of thewinding is connected by a wire I04 to one fixed contact I08 of theswitch A. The other fixed contact I81 of said switch A is connected by a'wire I08 to the wire 820 leading from the fixed contact 84a of theignition switch to the ignition system of the engine.

The switch A comprises a sheet metal housing IIO which may be supportedin any desirable way. Riveted or otherwise secured to this housing is adiaphragm chamber formed by two cupshaped metal shells H2 and H4suitably flanged and joined together so as to form a fluid tight Jointwith a diaphragm II8 secured between the flanges. The housing III isclosed at one end by a circular block of insulating material II8,supporting the fixed contacts I88 and I81.

Secured to and supported at one end by the diaphragm IIS and extendingthrough an opening I20 in the housing I I0 is a cylindrical element I22having a spindle I24 projecting from its opposite end, which is closed.Pivotally mounted on the spindle I24 is a movable contact member; I28having two contact surfaces I28 which are adapted to be moved intoengagement with the contacts I06 and I01 when the member I22 is rotatedby means later described. The contact member I25 is held flat againstthe closed end of the element I22 by any suitable means, as for examplewashers I and a locking clip as more fully shown in application SerialNo. 643,375. Posts I32 are secured in the housing I I0 on opposite sidesof the member I22 and act as stops to limit the movements of the contactmember I28 while a helical spring I24 is connected at one end to one ofthe posts and at its other end to the contact member I28, so that thespring tends to hold said contact member in the normal switch openposition.

In order to move the contact member I22 into engagement with the fixedcontacts I08 and I81 there is provided a sleeve I 66 which is closed atone end, the closed end fitting within a suitable recess in theinsulating material III, while pro- Jecting therefrom is a spindle I 66,journalled in the insulating material and having secured in anydesirable way at its outer end an operating arm I46 which is adapted tobe connected in any suitable way to the accelerator pedal or some memberoperated thereby. This sleeve is provided with slots which embrace thecontact member I26, as more fully shown in application Serial 643,375,when the device is assembled and shoulders I42 are provided on one sideof each of these slots for a purpose to be set forth more fully later.The insulating material may be held in place in any suitable manner, onemeans for this purpose being shown and described in application SerialNo. 643,375.

A nipple I44 is threaded into a hexagonal projection I46 which isintegral with and extends from the shell II2 while a flexible suctionconduit I41 of suitable material. such as copper tubing, is suitablyconnected to the nipple. Received within the inner end of the nipple I44and extending to the diaphragm is a helical compression spring I48 whichholds the contact member I26 in engagement with the inner face of theinsulating material H8 at all times other than when the engine suctionmoves the diaphragm against the pressure of said spring or when theaforementioned shoulders are effective to hold the contact member out ofengagement with the insulating material. A flanged cylindrical member IEis received within the spring I48 to limit the movement of the diaphragmunder suction, the flange on such member being received between thespring and the diaphragm.

The operation of this control switch is as follows: when the engine isstopped the parts are in such position that the contact member I26engages the insulating material I I8, but the contact surfaces thereonare not in engagement with contacts I06 and IN. To close the switch thecontact member I26 is rotated by movement of the arm I40 when theaccelerator pedal is moved so as to open the carburetor throttle. If theignition switch is in closed position when this movement takes placecurrent will flow from the battery to ground and through wires 58a, 98a,the ignition switch wire I08, the switch A, wire I04, the winding of thesolenoid and connection I02. The solenoid 42a is thus caused to beenergized, closing the starting motor circuit and shifting the drivingpinion 28a as previously described to effect starting of the engine.

The switch A is opened by the action of engine suction which, throughthe medium of the diaphragm moves the contact member I26 in a directionnormal to the surface of the insulating material II 8. This suction isinsufiicient to so move the contact member I26 against the pressure ofspring I48 during the cranking of the engine by the starting motor, butbecomes sufficient when the engine starts running under its own power,so that the switch is opened and the starting motor renderedinoperative.

Under some operating conditions, as for example, when the load is veryheavy and the throttle wide open the suction might be insuflicient tohold the contact member I26 away from the insulating material. As thecontact surfaces I28 are so shaped that they lie opposite the con tactsI06 and I01, during the entire throttle open: ing movement of theaccelerator after such contacts have been rotated into position toengage contacts I06 and I01, the failure of the suction might cause theswitch A to be closed while the engine was still operating slowly,resulting in broken gear teeth or other damage. To prevent this actionthe shoulders I42 are provided. When the engine is stopped the contactmember I26 lies at the bottom of the slots in sleeve I66 and remains inthis position when the sleeve is rotated to move the member I26 toswitch closing position. When the engine suction operates to move themember I26 toward the open ends of the slots, as soon as said member ismoved beyond the shoulders I42 the spring I64 rotates the member I26 ina direction opposite to that in which it is moved to close the switch,so that i! the suction falls it will rest on said shoulders I42, untilthe suction increases or the arm I40 is returned to its initial positionwhen the member I26 will engage the posts I02, and be disengaged fromthe shoulder I 42.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a prei'erred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follows.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current fromsaid source, an electromagnet for establishing driving connectionbetween the starting motor and the engine, means for variablycontrolling the quantity of combustible mixture supplied to the engineduring the normal operation thereof, a switch adapted to be operated bysaid mixture controlling means and controlling the energization of saidelectromagnet, said switch including a member adapted to be rotated intoclosed position and means for moving said member on its axis of rotationto open the switch when the engine is in operation.

2. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor operable by current from said source,and in circuit therewith an electromagnet for establishing drivingconnection. between the starting motor and the engine, and completingthe circuit between the starting motor and the current source, means forvariably controlling the quantity of combustible mixture supplied to theengine during the normal operation thereof, a switch adapted to beoperated by said mixture controlling means and controlling theenergization of said electromagnet, said switch including a memberadapted to be rotated into closed position and means for moving saidmember on its axis of rotation to open the switch when the engine is inoperation.

3. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current fromsaid source, an electromagnet for establishing driving connectionbetween the starting motor and the engine, means for variablycontrolling the quantity of mixture supplied to the engine during thenormal operation thereof including a pedal adapted to be operated by thefoot of the operator of the engine, a switch operated by said pedal andcontrolling the operation of said electromagnet, said switch including amember adapt ed to be rotated into closed position and means for movingsaid member on its axis of rotation to open the switch when the engineis in operation.

4. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current fromsaid source, an electromagnet for establishing driving connectionbetween the starting motor and the engine, means for variablycontrolling the quantity of combustible mixture supplied to the engineduring the normal operation thereof, a switch adapted to be closed bysaid mixture controlling means to cause energization of theelectromagnet, means operated by engine suction for holding said switchopen during operation of the engine, a second means independent ofengine suction for holding said switch open to prevent operation of thestarting motor during operation of the engine under its own power, andmeans for rendering said last named means inoperative upon return of themixture controlling means to its normal initial position.

5. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current fromsaid source, an electromagnet for establishing driving connectionbetween the starting motor and the engine, means for variablycontrolling the quantity of combustible mixture supplied to the engineduring the normal operation thereof, and a switch for controlling theoperation of the said electromagnet, said switch comprising a fixedcontact and a movable contact, a member operable by said mixturecontrolling means for moving said movable contact to position to closesaid switch, a member operable by engine suction to open said switch,means on said last named member operative to hold said switch openindependently of said mixture controlling means, and means operable whensaid mixture controlling means is moved to normal inoperative positionto render said holding means ineffective.

6. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor adapted to be operated by current fromsaid source, an electromagnet for establishing driving connectionbetween the starting motor and the engine, means for variablycontrolling the quantity of combustible mixture supplied to the engineduring the normal operation thereof, and a switch for controlling theoperation of the said electromagnet, said switch comprising a fixedcontact and a movable contact, a member operable by said mixturecontrolling device to rotate said movable contact to switch closingposition, means operable by engine suction to move said movable contactin a direction normal to the plane of rotation to open said switch, ashoulder on said switch closing member adapted to hold said movablecontact in open position, means for moving said movable contact intoposition to engage the shoulder when said switch is open and means todisengage said movable contact from the shoulder when the switchoperating member is moved to normal inoperative position.

7. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor operable by current from said source,an electromagnet for establishing driving connection between saidstarting motor and the engine to enable the engine to be started by saidmotor, means for variably controlling the quantity of mixture suppliedto the engine while the starting motor is being operated to start saidengine, a switch operable by said means and closed thereby as themixture controlling means is moved to regulate the mixture supply tocause said magnet to be energized and means operated by eng ne suctionwhen the engine is started to open said switch and cause the magnet tobe de-energized.

iii

8. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, a.current source, a starting motor operable by current trom said source,on electromagnet for establishing driving connection between saidstarting motor and the engine to enable the engine to be started by saidmotor, means for variably controlling the quantity of mixture suppliedto the engine while the starting motor is being operated to start said.engine, a

switch operable by said means and closed thereby as the mixturecontrolling means is moved to regulate the mixture supply to cause saidmagnet to be energized, and means operated by engine suction for holdingsaid switch open during operation of the engine under its own power toprevent energization of the magnet.

9. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor operable by current from said source,an electromagnet for establishing driving connection between saidstarting motor and the engine to enable the engine to be started by saidmotor, means for variably controlling the quantity of mixture suppliedto the engine while the starting motor is being operated to start saidengine, a switch operable by said means and closed thereby as themixture controlling means is moved to regulate the mixture supply tocause said magnet to be energized, means operated by engine suction forholding said switch open during operation of the engine under its ownpower, and a second means [or holding said switch open when the engineis selfoperative and operable independently of engine suction, wherebyoperation of the starting motor is positively prevented during operationof the engine regardless of engine suction.

10. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor operable by current from said source,an electromagnet for establishing driving connection between saidstarting motor and the engine to enable the engine to be started by saidmotor, means for variably controlling the quantity of mixture suppliedto the engine while the starting motor is being operated to start saidengine, a switch operable by said means and closed thereby as themixture controlling means is moved to regulate the mixture supply tocause said magnet to be energized, a generator having a connection tothe current source and a cut-out relay therein, and means for connectingthe winding of the magnet with said connection between the generator andsaid cut-out relay whereby the generator sets up a counter voltage inthe winding of said magnet in order to cause the magnet to bede-energized when the engine is operating under its own power.

11. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor operable by current from said source,an electromagnet for establishing driving connection between saidstarting motor and the engine to enable the engine to be started by saidmotor, means for variably controlling the quantity of mixture suppliedto the engine while the starting motor is being operated to start saidengine, a switch operable by said means and closed thereby as themixture controlling means is moved to regulate the mixture supply tocause said magnet to be energized, and means operated by engine suctionto cause said magnet to be deenergized when the engine begins to operateunder its own power, said means being operable entirely independently ofthe mixture controlling means so that the suction is effective to causede-energization of the magnet regardless of the position of said mixturecontrolling means when the engine becomes self-operative.

12. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor operable by current from said source,an electromagnet for establishing driving connection between saidstarting motor and the engine to enable the engine to be started by saidmotor, means for variably controlling the quantity of mixture suppliedto the engine while the starting motor is being operated to start saidengine, a switch having fixed and movable contacts for controlling theoperation of said electromagnet, a member operable by said mixturecontrolling means, as the later is moved to regulate the mixture supply,for moving said movable contact to position to close the switch, amember operable byengine suction to move said movable contact to aposition to open the switch when the engine is started, and means onsaid first member operative to prevent movement of the movable contactto position to close said switch as long as the engine isself-operative,

13. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising, acurrent source, a starting motor operable by current from said source,electrically operated means for establishing driving connection betweenthe starting motor and the engine, means for controlling the quantity ofcombustible mixture supplied to the engine, a switch for controlling theoperation of said electrically operated means and comprising fixed andmovable contacts, a member operable by the mixture controlling means formoving the movable contact to switch closing position, means operable byengine suction to open the switch, means on said last named memberoperative to hold said switch open independently of engine suction asthe mixture controlling means is moved to different positions and meansoperable when the mixture controlling-means is moved to its normalinoperative position to render the holding means ineffective.

14. Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising, acurrent source, a

7 position to open the switch, a shoulder on the switch closing memberto hold said movable contact in position to maintain the switch openduring operation of the engine under its 'own power, means operable tomove said movable contact into engagement with said shoulder after theswitch contacts have been disengaged, and means to disengage saidmovable contact from the shoulder to permit restarting of the engine.

JOHN B. DYER.

